A new on-property South Australian record price of $38,000 was set when Leahcim 111355 was purchased by Chad Burbidge, Murray Bridge, and Gary Ferguson, Tintinara, representing the Superior Wool Syndicate.
They outbid Bill Walker, Classings Ltd, who was buying for a Western Australian syndicate comprising Scott Welke, Esperence; the Clark family Brookdale stud, Arthur River; and Bruce Pengilly, Penrose stud, Esperence.
The new top was $7000 above the previous SA on-property record of $31,000 set by Lorelmo-Willalooka and was higher than Leahcim's previous individual ram price of $25,000 at the Classings Classic.
Sired by Leahcim 080187, the record ram had wonderful MerinoSelect wool and carcase figures, highlighted by a yearling fleece weight breeding value of +24 and eye muscle breeding value of +0.5.
Chad Burbidge said the ram was the best in the catalogue for his all-round attributes and figures, but particularly for his length of body and wool staple. The ram will be mated to more than 2000 ewes by AI in Superior Wool Syndicate members' flocks.
Ray and Brad Schroeder, Gunallo stud, Murrayville; Jed & Hugo Keller, Ramsgate stud, Tintinara; and the Paech family, Lucernebrae stud, Callington, all negotiated semen shares in the ram.
The price was far above anything else at the sale, with $7000 being the second-top-price, paid by two of the semen share partners in the top ram; Gunallo taking lot 1, L110190 and Ramsgate picking up L111545 at lot 11.
Last year demand was so strong that prices reached what was believed to be a national on-property record average at the time of $2988 for the 200 rams offered, with another 120 rams sold privately the next day.
Leahcim principal Andrew Michael was delighted with this year's result, when 196 of the 200 sold for a much more affordable $2123 average.
"When you take the stud ram purchases out it was even better for our long-time regulars," he said. "We are delighted that all our loyal clients were able to get cheaper rams this year, or purchase a higher quality for the same budget."